President Obama on Bill Cosby: If you give someone a drug and have sex with them, that's rape

President Barack Obama responded to a reporter's question Wednesday regarding whether he will revoke comedian Bill Cosby's Medal of Freedom.

"I'll say this -- if you give a woman or man, without his or her knowledge a drug, and then have sex with that person without consent, that's rape," Obama said during a White House press conference on Capitol Hill. "I think this country, any civilized country should have no tolerance for rape."

Obama added that there's no precedent for revoking Cosby's Medal of Freedom.

The press conference, which was intended to cover the newly struck Iran nuclear deal comes one day after the U.S. and five other world powers sealed the long-sought and controversial deal.

More than two dozen women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct in the past four decades, and many alleged that he drugged and raped them. The 78-year-old comedian, who has never been charged with a crime, denied some accusations while declining to comment or respond to the others.

In addition to Cosby's legal woes, a group supporting sexual assault victims is petitioning President Barack Obama to revoke Cosby's Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment launched the campaign Wednesday through the White House's "We the People" website. The group says it is working with women who have accused Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them. It's collected about 2,000 signatures in less than a day.

President George W. Bush presented the nation's highest civilian honor to Cosby in 2002, citing his revolutionary portrayal of blacks on television and his interest and dedication to education.

The group's executive director says: "Bill Cosby's name does not belong among this distinguished list."